https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 03 Apr 2026 20:28:11 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family/page/2#post-276236 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 13:30:43 +0000 Mrs. Train 276236@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have so any traditions I just love Christmas</p> <p>On Christmas eve Santa and mrs Claus come for a visit. (my grandparents did this for me as a child and my parents have taken over the job)</p> <p>On Christmas eve my dad would give my sister and I a piece of jeweler for wearing to church that evening. I continued with my kids only I had to change it up a bit since I had three sons. So I bought one special present for my sons and my husband is in charge of my daughter. Last year they got little pocket watches and a bracelet.</p> <p>We do new pajamas for Christmas eve</p> <p>On Christmas morning we do stockings and presents</p> <p>After presents I make breakfast which is the breakfast my grandma made for my dad as a kid </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family/page/2#post-274854 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:50:36 +0000 LittleFox 274854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Every Christmas eve, my DH's family did this big traditional Polish dinner. It has all these specific dishes or types of dishes. They also have Oplatki (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_wafer" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_wafer</a>), which are Christmas wafers. We'd definitely like to keep doing that with our in laws, or on our own if we won't see them that year (we alternate between his family and mine yearly).</p> <p>We also always go to Mass, and have an Advent wreath.</p> <p>One present on Christmas eve, picked by the parents (usually pajamas).</p> <p>Stockings done first thing in the morning, and they're the only thing it's okay to break into if you get up before everyone else does.</p> <p>Baking Christmas cookies! We also leave them out for Santa with milk and carrots for the reindeer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family/page/2#post-274431 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:26:54 +0000 sulli301 274431@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have been thinking a lot about Christmas traditions this year because baby #2, DS, will be born right around the holiday!</p> <p>Some Christmas traditions we will do every year:</p> <p>-New Ornament for everyone each year<br /> -Advent Calendar &amp; advent wreath<br /> -Mass<br /> -One gift Christmas eve<br /> -The Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve<br /> -Something yummy for breakfast<br /> -Stockings FIRST!<br /> -Special Santa paper &amp; gift tags<br /> -Watch a Christmas movie the day of or day before<br /> -Christmas pjs<br /> -Leaving cookies, milk, carrots &amp; water out<br /> so many fun ones! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family/page/2#post-274400 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 09:50:34 +0000 mamimami 274400@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is a hard question for me because I live in a different culture. Here, pretty much all the celebrating takes place on Christmas Eve -- the eating, the presents, the church (if there is church), the whole nine yards. I personally miss Christmas Day action! So I am thinking that we should celebrate just with our immediate family on Christmas Day, with church, presents, etc. And I miss stockings. I want to do stockings this year! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family/page/2#post-274364 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 09:22:08 +0000 blackbird 274364@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would like to do pajamas or one present on Christmas Eve, plus stockings. We did that growing up. We tried to implement a new tradition last year of watching traditional Christmas shows on Christmas eve—charlie brown, the Grinch, etc, but my parents were staying with us and they hemmed and hawed about watching “stupid cartoons”, that we had to change the channel to a Jackie O documentary. That really pissed me off, actually. This year, they can STFU. Last year we did breakfast with my MIL, which was new—I made pumpkin monkey bread…but I’d like to do breakfast, just us, with our family. I’m not sure that we’ll ever have “just us” at Christmas because my parents will likely always come up. But I’d like to bust out some cinnamon rolls and a fruit platter. Yum. Maybe reading Christmas stories in bed to our little ones before they go to sleep? I think that's sweet. </p> <p>I also buy one nice ornament/year, based on what’s going on! </p> <p>My mom has this tradition of buying me crystal every year. Unfortunately, most of it’s old lady, and she doesn’t take no for an answer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family/page/2#post-274312 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 08:27:34 +0000 Ocean girl 274312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love this thread and am stealing all of your ideas!</p> <p>Decorating the tree while listening to Boney M and Raffi will be a must in our house!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family/page/2#post-274223 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 06:40:53 +0000 looch 274223@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a lot of ideas, but I am not sure exactly what we'll do. A few things are for certain, such as an advent calendar that my MIL made for my son (she made hand knitted mittens and hats that I'll string on a clothesline) and a small nativity scene. I also would like to incorporate Hannukah, as I think it's important to expose my son to all religions. </p> <p>I also do a yearly ornament, snowflakes for my son, since he was born in December. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family/page/2#post-274217 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 05:52:03 +0000 Trailmix 274217@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine is a Hannukkah tradition but when we were little kids, we were never allowed to have sugar cereals in the house but for Hannukah, my mom would buy an 8-pack of the mini boxes with all the good kinds (Frosted Flakes, Fruit Loops, etc) and that was always our present on the first night! Sounds crazy but I loooooooved it!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family/page/2#post-274185 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 00:22:04 +0000 anonysquire 274185@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Coco Bee: I am a Mormon. We always had weekly activities that usually centered around service from age 12-18, and then when we are adult age we have several humanitarian oppurtunities. I feel like my religion plays a huge part on why I love to help people. And my DH has only been a Mormon for a year and I am sad that he hasn't been given the same oppurtunities to serve. He will not know what hits him this year lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family/page/2#post-274022 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 19:46:57 +0000 Mrs. Pen 274022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@anonysquire: haha I love it. what is your religion? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family/page/2#post-273984 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 19:23:38 +0000 anonysquire 273984@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Coco Bee: Ya I totally want to do more charity this Christmas season with my husband. Growing up in my religion it is second nature to do charity work weekly and my husband didn't ever grow up like that. So ya, maybe I will start knitting some hats for the homeless. Would that be wierd handing hats out? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family/page/2#post-273967 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 19:03:21 +0000 Mrs. Pen 273967@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jessiejo17: LOVE LOVE LOVE. I love the pj's idea, and the yummy breakfast tradition!!</p> <p>@anonysquire: Oh yes! We read the bible story too!!</p> <p>Ooh another one I thought of. We did this while we were growing up but certain people who entered the family later on didn't like this tradition so it was let go... which I was super sad about... but on Christmas, before opening a present we had to answer a bible trivia question. My dad tailored each one to our age. It was SO SO fun. Then my siblings and I would always try to come up with crazy hard q's to stump my dad. It was impossible lol!!</p> <p>@anonysquire: I love the charity part too. I think I'll have to wait til all LO's are older tho. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family#post-273963 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 19:01:52 +0000 regberadaisy 273963@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePumps: haha I have a iTunes playlist! I'm not allowed to play it at home until after thanksgiving. But usually by oct/nov I have reloaded it onto my iPhone and listen to it a work with earbuds in. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family#post-273957 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 18:57:29 +0000 Mrs. Pen 273957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've seen some really awesome advent calendar ideas out there. That would be so fun. I'm sure once DS is older we will incorporate that too..</p> <p>One tradition we still do with my ever-growing family, is we write a letter to each family member and then on Christmas day we go around the room reading each letter. It definitely takes 1-2 hours as our family has grown quite a bit! lol so honestly I'm not sure how much longer it will last before kids take over and others get impatient. But I think it's special and I keep all those yearly letters tucked away. Occasionally I'll read them and smile. They are precious to me.</p> <p>I'd love to do that with my little family too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family#post-273877 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 17:17:42 +0000 PurplePumps 273877@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Funny that you're thinking of Christmas, I added Trans Siberian Orchestra to my playlist today just b/c I wanted to listen to Carol of the Bells... in Aug.<br /> Christmas wasn't really big in our house growing up since we're not religious, but we always had a picture of us every year standing in front of the tree so we could see how tall we were getting (Artificial tree that we used every year). No LO yet, but I see us doing that also. Other than that, I dont know yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family#post-273824 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 16:21:57 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 273824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We will go to church Christmas eve night, go look at Christmas lights and then open one gift before going to bed. I'll make a casserole for breakfast and we'll hang out or visit family.</p> <p>We're still not sure how we'll incorporate our families, since up til now we've split each holiday between families. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family#post-273785 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 15:55:43 +0000 Mrs. Superhero 273785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I thought people just took photos of the elf doing this to be funny, but he's like a Santa spy? I vote creepy. But then, we don't do Santa.</p> <p>Now that I've gone and been unfun....I'm soooo excited for Christmas this year! It's Wonder Baby's first Christmas, and the first year that Toddler Girl will really "get it".</p> <p>I love the new pj's idea! We will probably do Norwegian Christmas Eve, like DH's family, and open presents from that side of the family; then Christmas morning presents from our little family. Then get together with my family later that day or on boxing day. This will be our first time not just spending the week at my parents, I feel like it's our first real family Christmas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family#post-273761 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 15:39:57 +0000 luckypenny 273761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my parents got my sister and I matching pajamas. that was our one present to open on christmas eve and we wore them to bed that night. we still do this and my sister even got DH matching pj pants last year. I can't wait for LO to match all of us :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family#post-273738 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 15:29:57 +0000 Honeybee 273738@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: @coacheswife123: Ok, I showed my husband the Elf on the Shelf, and he loves it! We're going to get this for the kids and start after Thanskgiving!</p> <p>We do cut down our own tree every year on the day after Thanksgiving. It's fun, but a lot of work when you have two babies to cart with you out into forest! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family#post-273733 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 15:24:03 +0000 regberadaisy 273733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MaisyMay: We do something similar. Every year I splurge on one good ornament for our tree. So this year will be an ornament for M! :) So far we have 11 really nice ornaments!<br /> And we have a bunch of "heirloom" ones as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family#post-273723 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 15:15:42 +0000 MaisyMay 273723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our anniversary is a week before Christmas so Hubs and I give each other ornaments that have to do with the year previous. Also, we'll get a new ornament for LO each year so that when she's an adult, she'll have all of her ornaments. Hubs' parents did this for both of their kids and they each have quite a collection. It's fun to see what they were interested in each year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family#post-273577 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 14:09:53 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 273577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I want to incorporate cooking a big breakfast to eat before opening presents. We did that at my dads. It prolonged the morning. At my moms we opened gifts one at a time. I want to do that as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family#post-273574 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 14:08:18 +0000 rattles 273574@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My hubs and I started a new tradition of our own we call Christmas campout. The day we buy our tree, we set it up and decorate, then camp out on an air mattress under the twinkly lights and watch Christmas movies until we fall asleep. Traditions we brought from our individual families were Advent wreaths and calendars, Christmas breakfast, and a lights tour on Christmas night. I've already started making a stocking for our LO too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family#post-273569 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 14:06:03 +0000 emcoco 273569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: Oh, that's super sad! I remember one year (maybe my freshman year of college?) when I came home my mom and sister had put up a fake tree and lit a pine-scented candle to try to trick me. Seriously? Not the same at all. I was not pleased.</p> <p>Well the bonus for you is that you don't have to worry about cleaning up all the needles or keeping your pets from drinking all the water! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family#post-273565 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 14:04:17 +0000 littlebug 273565@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. bird: You are totally not. <a href="http://www.peopleiwanttopunchinthethroat.com/2011/12/over-achieving-elf-on-shelf-mommies.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.peopleiwanttopunchinthethroat.com/2011/12/over-achieving-elf-on-shelf-mommies.html</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family#post-273562 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 14:03:24 +0000 regberadaisy 273562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsnana: I soooo want to do this!!! But we can't. :( My husband is really really allergic to pine. So only fake trees for this family. Sad face. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family#post-273558 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 14:01:34 +0000 emcoco 273558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. bird: you are NOT the only one creeped out by the elf! no thank you.</p> <p>A tradition I'd love to pick up again once we have kids is cutting down our own tree. Growing up, every year we'd go to the same place, have lunch at the same hole-in-the-wall restaurant afterward, and sing christmas carols the whole way there and back.</p> <p>My sister and I also slept under the christmas tree every christmas eve so "Santa" could carry us back to bed. Our parents must have had full-faith that we were deep sleepers! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family#post-273468 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 13:12:45 +0000 MsLipGloss 273468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@RegberaDaisy: I *puffyheart* that movie . . . *I can't put my arms down* . . . *Fraa-geee-lay - it must be Italian!* . . . the bunny suit etc. :)</p> <p>Elf on the Shelf has been around for a few years - like maybe 2005? It's known to us here in Georgia (it's from an Atlanta suburb, Marietta). I gave my brother and sis-in-law one a few years ago. My niece and nephew love it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family#post-273464 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 13:11:09 +0000 LuLu Mom 273464@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: it is fairly new, it's a cute way to keep kids interested in staying "good" for Santa close to the holidays. It also keeps them busy and distracted up to the big day with something else to focus on! <a href="http://elfontheshelf.com/AboutUs/TheTradition.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://elfontheshelf.com/AboutUs/TheTradition.aspx</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-christmas-traditions-did-youdo-you-want-to-incorporate-for-your-own-family#post-273412 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 12:36:40 +0000 regberadaisy 273412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Watching A Christmas Story every year!<br /> Christmas morning brunch where ever we are<br /> Not sure if we'll do the Xmas eve present thing...maybe when they're older and ask for it??<br /> I would like us to all decorate the tree together <i>after</i> Thanksgiving!</p> <p>@jessiejo17: @Mrs. Blue: What's the deal with elf on the shelf?! Is it a new thing?</p> <p>@mrs. bird: me too! I don't plan on doing it... </p>